(CNN) - Coming into the home stretch, voters’ views of Barack Obama and John McCain seem relatively locked in place, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Monday.

With just one full day of campaigning left, 59 percent of voters feel Obama is someone who can bring change; roughly the same number say McCain is not. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed think McCain has the right experience to be president, but voters remain less certain about Obama: Half the country says the Illinois senator has the experience he’d need in the Oval Office, and nearly the same number do not.

Working in Obama’s favor is the perception that he is as strong a leader as McCain: the two are essentially tied, at 64 and 62 percent.

And Obama seems to have an edge on the question of which candidate cares about people: Two-thirds of those polled believe Obama cares about people like them. Fifty-four percent say the same of McCain.

No matter which candidate comes out on top, a majority of voters say they’ll be proud of their new Commander-in-chief: Sixty percent of registered voters surveyed say they would be proud to have Obama as president, and 54 percent feel that way about McCain.

The survey was based on telephone interviews with 1,017 adult Americans, including 950 registered voters and 716 likely voters, conducted October 30-November 1, 2008. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent.

soundoff(628 Responses)

Well said...

Willie Floyd...extremely well said.

November 3, 2008 08:29 am at 8:29 am |

IF, Lisboa

McCain still states he's been tested. Does he refer to his years as POW? Well... that was more bad luck than a test, ans that test was and is, unfortunately, shared by meny others. He did conduct himself honourably? Yes, he says so and I see no reason to dispute that.

But he keeps harping on experience when in fact it seems he means "EXPERIENCES" (those half-a-century-old-war experiences). The two don't equate necessarily.

But even if he was tested in times of war he certainly failed the test when it came to judgement, poise and calm in a crisis.

His most visible blunder of all, is his choice of VP. Can anyone really imagine Palin palling around with normal people, people who read newspapers and are well informed, people who debate views and don't cry out slogans, people who don't necessarily solve backyard problems at gun-point... Can you just imagine???

That fake phonecall from Sarkozy is almost unbelievable. Palin just hasn't got a clue... and she hasn't been around two-weeks anymore.

Americans... you have given the rest of the world eight years of Bush! Please, do not give it another 4 of another nitwit😦

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

Meg

Right here in Africa,you only need to feel the pulse.

Obama only.No more no less.

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

Free Speech for Mccain

Obama can bring change... o well phase to of communism is no more free speech... Thanks Obama

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

rahepee

Give this poor, distracted and divided country a strong hand, one proven by his mettle by surving attacks on her personal character since February 5th of this year, and still looking cool, calm and collected. His campaign has been a marvel to watch with its pin-point efficiency, its flexibility, and its amazing ability to energize people on both sides of the aisle. God bless, Obama, and God speed.

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

Allen

STUPID GULLIBLE PEOPLE....

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

rahepee

Give this poor, distracted and divided country a strong hand, one proven by his mettle by surving attacks on his personal character since February 5th of this year, and still looking cool, calm and collected. His campaign has been a marvel to watch with its pin-point efficiency, its flexibility, and its amazing ability to energize people on both sides of the aisle. God bless, Obama, and God speed.

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

chuck

There is no comparison beteen Barack Obama and John McCain.I will say Barack Obama by a LANDSLIDE. McCain has no looks,no personality,no common sense,no control of temper,and he is OLD.He looks more like a plumber with all the mess that has been dropping in the White House be His God father George Bush.McCain gives a new meaning of "JOHNS" --think waste matter.

November 3, 2008 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

Indio CA

Sen Barack Obama

November 3, 2008 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

Lilarose in Bandon, Oregon

To the poster who mentioned Barack Obama being "black," keep in mind the woman who birthed and suckled him was a white woman from Kansas!

November 3, 2008 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

Confused, not surprised

I think there is a clear reason why people feel Barack is the same as McSame as to who is more presidential.

It's a shame, a fact that this country NEEDS to get over and move forward on. No need to say it. Whoever reads this comment can take it as they will.

We need to grow up as a country and begin to realize there was a period of time in our country that is called HISTORY for a reason.

November 3, 2008 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

Darryl Miller, Arlington TX

When it comes down to the facts...... Senator Barack Obama, to put it simple he carried himself throughout his campaign above the trash talk and above the personal attacks he stuck to the facts.

I say Senator Obama..

November 3, 2008 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

Ty, Germany

The only reason Europeans want Obama, is because he'd scale back the power of the US by implementing the same socialist systems that have harmed Europe. With that, European countries will have greater impact in the world, and the US loses power.

If I'm an American, I vote McCain, to keep the US at the top.
Too bad he's still a bad candidate. It would be nice to see a conservative Democrat take the office. Or a socially liberal Republican.

Either way, I'll be disappointed with the election, because the US is going down in flames and nobody will get out alive.

November 3, 2008 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

robert

Lets look at this.....hhmmmmm a socialist president, or a man that served his country with honor? CNN should be ashamed, they have glossed over all of obamas affiliations and thus the people do not get all of the information they need to make an INTELLIGENT choice. 40 percent of america pay no taxes now. Why on gods green earth should the other 60 pay for them!!!?????
Giving half of your peanutbutter and jelly sandwich to someone is charity, having half TAKEN from you and then given to someone else is socialist!

November 3, 2008 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

Noah

Some people may think they'd be more proud of electing Obama, but once they see the direction he takes our country in the honest ones will admit they were wrong. John McCain is an American hero who has always stood for what is right. Barack Obama is the most inexperienced politician ever to be this close to winning the Presidency. He has always stood for whatever would further his political career. he has used people all the way up the ladder to success. He attended a racist church for 20 years and then denounced it only when it could have hurt his ambitions. He sat on an education board with an unrepetant terrorist and denounced him only after it could hurt his campaign. Obama has followers who simply don;t care what disgusting relationships he has engaged in in the past.

November 3, 2008 08:32 am at 8:32 am |

Fred the moderate

Yes, I believe this artical as true. I told my wife a couple of days ago that I felt people have made up their minds who they would vote for and that these last min. attack ad's from McCains' camp were un-necessary and if anything – hurtful for his legacy.

McCain shoot himself in the foot picking Ann Colter Palin. He isolated we moderates and blow-up his own arguments, which he is now trying to reserrect. Sad

Sen. Obama has endured the worst in America. He has beaten Bill and Hillary Clinton along with the Democratic political orginization. He has beaten the McCain, Palin and the RNC / GOP as well. It shows his great abilities and leadership. it also says alot about his orginizational skills as well. It doesn't matter who your voting for, you have to admit – that's impressive!

November 3, 2008 08:32 am at 8:32 am |

Godwin lnegbenebor

First and formost l thanks the american for listen to the voice of wisdom. A vote for obama is a for vote for peace in the world

November 3, 2008 08:32 am at 8:32 am |

Republican101

I'm a lifelong Republican, voting for John McCain. Would I be proud to have Barack Obama as my president? I'd have to say, absolutely. I'm proud of both of these men.

November 3, 2008 08:33 am at 8:33 am |

Gloria

Go Obama/Biden!!

November 3, 2008 08:33 am at 8:33 am |

BJGT

Hands down, no question, absolutely, most certainly...OBAMA!

November 3, 2008 08:33 am at 8:33 am |

PHYLON DUBE

TO THE FELLOW HARD-CORE REPUBLICANS

I CANNOT FACE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF MY PARTY. I AM THEREFORE VOTING DEMOCRAT AS A WAY OF PROTEST AGAINST OUT OF TOUCH LEADERS OF THE PARTY INCLUDING THE ONCE MARVELLOUS JOHN MCAIN WHO IS NOW TURNED INTO A MONSTER. BESIDES IF THE WAR IN IRAQ AND THE CREDIT CRUNCH HAS DONE TO YOU WHAT IT DID TO ME(because of our party's snobbish, self fulfilling policies), YOU WOULD EITHER NOT VOTE OR VOTE THE BEST PARTY FOR THE DAY. my vote cannot be taken for granted. If you vote REPUBLICAN (this year), YOU ARE JUST A FANATIC, or blind suppoter and God forbid we win again and this time it wont be a joke---WE WILL SUFFER. My vote is through Obama for the....(this is paiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Democrats.

November 3, 2008 08:33 am at 8:33 am |

Steve, Houston

I was recently in the UK on business and whil in a taxi the driver in his very thick non-English accent–not sure where he was from, but he'd been in London for 12 years–said to me, "I hear this Brakk Obooma [sic] is a black guy trying to be President in America. I know no black person can ever run your country so why is he trying? Do you think some of the hate in your country could harm him?". A little taken aback and motivated by my sense of patriotism, I reluctantly defended our country, but realized afterward that this was just one of the examples of foreign perceptions of the US.

Our cowboy attitude and approach to foreign relations and the elitist perceptions that accompany the position that we are so important that we will give you the cold shoulder until you do what we want only fuels the negative foreign sentiments that are out there. No wonder our race relations issues (and we do have them) are so wildly overblown abroad (at least I think we are better than the cabbie suggested).

I would have taken such great pride in sitting in that cab and listening to that cabbie on Nov 5th as he pontificated on how wonderful the US must be now and how he was wrong about how intolerant of a country we are. I could hear him now, "You all must have come a long way".

Here is to witnessing a great step in this direction on Tuesday!!

November 3, 2008 08:33 am at 8:33 am |

Marcos xp

Obama 2008

November 3, 2008 08:34 am at 8:34 am |

Diing in Washington

Go get em Barack

November 3, 2008 08:34 am at 8:34 am |

sAM

Its interesting that CNN, Obama's bosum buddy this whole campaign, only publishes PRO-OBAMA remarks....I would be shocked if this one made it through...CNN and the rest of the media has pushed the great Messiah down our throats and all you poor suckers have bought it....he is truly a big bag of hot air and supremely UNQUALIFIED.